Irish presidential candidate Dana is set to be sued by her niece, Susan, over comments which she made on Irish television about the sexual abuse which Susan was allegedly subjected to by Dana’s brother. Susan Gorell says that Dana’s statements on Irish television cast doubt on the abuse accusation.
IrishCentral.com revealed that Dana’s brother, John, a prominent figure in her election campaign for president of Ireland, was accused in an Iowa court by his brother in law, Dr. Ronald Stein, of molesting Stein’s daughter over a number of years.
Dana had claimed in a presidential debate that false and malicious stories were going to appear about her and her family. Susan Gorell is saying that the accusations made against Dana’s brother by her and her parents are true.
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Gorell, who is now aged 45 and a prominent film maker in Iowa, stated that she had been in touch with her attorneys “in relation to a number of media reports in America and Ireland. My family and I have also noted comments made on “Prime Time” on RTE1 this week and are taking legal advice on how to address those.”
Her law firm, Eeels and Tronvold in Sioux City Iowa, later issued a statement written by partner Jeffrey Tronvold saying, “I am writing this note to inform you that I represent a 45-year-old Iowa woman who has been identified as being sexually molested over a number of years.
“It has come to my client’s attention that Dana Rosemary Scallon has made comments on Irish television earlier this week regarding her.
“We wish to make clear to the media in Ireland and the United States that my client reserves the right to take all legal actions available to her against all persons who report or publish any claim that any potential allegations made by my client are in any way false, malicious, or untrue.”
The Dana family controversy comes against the backdrop of Dana announcing in Dublin on Friday that she will continue her long shot plan to win the Irish presidency, an office she previously sought in 1997.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.BARNEYKX | Oct 25, 2011, 04:35 PM EDT
yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh good one nosoupforU
nosoupforU | Oct 16, 2011, 10:30 PM EDT
Biggles008 Her Daddy should have pulled out.
jacersagain | Oct 16, 2011, 09:11 AM EDT
I agree with fintanoflaois who says this spat is about the Steins & Gorrells pursuit of Mammon. It is clear that Susan Gorell’s threat to sue Dana is all about Mammon; some people are quite ruthless in its pursuit. Every effort by Stein and Gorell is being made to discredit her. I won’t be voting No. 1 for Dana in the Presidential election; however, I have no reason to disbelieve Dana - she is incredibly and forcefully truthful about a lot of things, especially given her deep Catholic ethos. ICentral carried a story the other day about a priest, Fr. Reynolds, who was publicly pompously accused by RTÉ TV of fathering a child in Africa but cleared after paternity tests showed no substance to the story and now RTÉ will eat humble pie. So far, there has been a ruthless allegation made by Stein and Gorrell, no proof offered and no substance. Dana’s passionate denial and anger at the accusations would, for me, appear closer to the truth. Like as for RTÉ over the Fr. Reynolds case, Gorrell and Stein may yet have to eat humble pie too.
gobdawpaddy | Oct 16, 2011, 06:18 AM EDT
Gave a little thought to my 'mindset' after Kennedy's critique. Snow Drops and Daffodil Syndrome was in play when Irish people referred to their former Taoiseach's 'marital difficulties', Of course he had 'marital difficulties', he was having an affair with his wifes best friend. You encounter a grossly overweight person in Irish public life and invariably ones Irish host will dismiss the persons largesse with 'ah she must be suffering from the glandular problems', never McDonalds or Guinnes syndrome, always pretend. A slightly shhhlow race, but dacent papil.
BARNEYKX | Oct 15, 2011, 07:04 PM EDT
THATS DANA GONE NOW GOOD RIDDANCE TO HER
Springfield9 | Oct 15, 2011, 12:42 PM EDT
Test that Lawyer's letter against the First Amendment. A person, not involved in the illegal act, can say anything they want. For instance, "Bill Clinton never misplced his cigar" - sue me.
CitizenWhy | Oct 15, 2011, 11:42 AM EDT
Looks like the Presidential candidates in irelaand are as flaky as in the USA (with some exceptions).
mcdolan | Oct 15, 2011, 11:10 AM EDT
Does anyone really care about this? Why do you continue to report it? Tragedy for the niece, indeed the family, but really not germane to a presidential campaign except to continue mudslinging and personal attacks rather than get to the issues of what a candidate can do as Ireland's Head of State. (BTW, I am not voting for Dana.)
mooneya | Oct 15, 2011, 09:57 AM EDT
I think this presidential campaign has sunk to new low depths and it seems anything goes and all candidates are targeted by the media. Hopefully things will calm down for the rest of the campaign and the emphasis will return to issues and what those who want to represent us can do to uplift Ireland. Its no wonder the country is wallowing in negativity.
donal1951 | Oct 15, 2011, 09:57 AM EDT
Even though I never supported her candidacy, I defended Dana Rosemary Scanlon's right to run for president of Ireland despite having taken out US citizenship. This, however, is a horse of a different colour. Rather than putting her niece through pain, whether the accusations against Dana's brother are true or not, Dana should withdraw from the presidential contest and let the law take its course about the abuse allegations.
AndrewSB49 | Oct 15, 2011, 08:53 AM EDT
It must be a Catholic thing NOT to report vile allegations of gross child sexual abuse to the authorities! I mean Dana has built her career on how devoutly Catholic she is; and here we have a story concerning vile allegations of child abuse in her family circle and we hear of no concern for the victim nor any admittance that civil and legal authorities have been informed.
biggles008 | Oct 15, 2011, 08:42 AM EDT
The whole thing is some waste of money. We don't need a president for at least 5 years.
Fintanoflaois | Oct 15, 2011, 08:40 AM EDT
Thank you, gobdawpaddy and cuddlybuddy, for your interesting and insightful contributions. Even if those allegations are totally untrue, Dana is making a huge mistake by not revealing them to the Irish people and letting them decide. Instead, she is trying to browbeat the media into covering them up - just like the kiddy-fiddler church, for which reputation and image come way ahead of the welfare of children. The allegations appear to be a spin off from a bitter spat over Mammon within a family of big-time God-botherers, and if Dana hasn't been able to settle it in the years since it erupted, how would she cope with a bigger problem that arose when she was President? It is fortunate for Ireland that she won't come within an ass's roar of the presidency. Just imagine how embarrassing it would be for the Irish people if she held the highest office in the land and the sections of her beyond-dysfunctional family who are at war with her continued to litigate against her! If she had any common sense or decency, she would stop campaigning and go back to the Bible Belt before she further damages the image of her country.
biggles008 | Oct 15, 2011, 08:37 AM EDT
If DANA had anything between the ears she would pull out.
gobdawpaddy | Oct 15, 2011, 07:18 AM EDT
Kennedy, how is my mindset 'very disturbing'? I am simply conveying my observations of the mindset of Irish people garnered during many visits over two decades. I have great affinity for Irish people but do find them a little quaint.
kennedy23 | Oct 15, 2011, 07:06 AM EDT
gobdawpaddy you mindset is very disturbing as it borders on a hatred i wonder why .take your preconceived notions and have a chat with the Leprechauns LOL .........you utter muppet !!!!!!!!
gobdawpaddy | Oct 15, 2011, 06:42 AM EDT
I have long opined that the Irish suffer from what I term 'snowdrops and daffodils syndrome', they pretend that nothing bad ever happens, that they can wish the bad stuff awayay refer to my earlier post re the Irish news media). Cuddlybuddy's post made me realize that if these allegations regarding sexual abuse of Dana's niece turn out to be true, my terminology regarding the Irish mindset will be so apt. 'Snowdrops and Daffodils Syndrome'.
cuddlybuddly | Oct 15, 2011, 06:14 AM EDT
I think Dana is a disgrace IF these allegations turn out to be true, and She is in Denial protecting "her Family" just like the pope protected the paedophile priests in that "family"...can you imagine how her niece feels? (IF it's true?) why couldn't Dana come clean and admit there is a question mark over this situation instead of refuting it as lies? it would lead me to believe Dana is covering up something by protesting too much...covering up this alleged sexual abuse is tantamount to being a partner in the crime...the shadow side of Dana
gobdawpaddy | Oct 15, 2011, 05:25 AM EDT
Agree with Fintanoflaois, 'The Irish media are terrified to even mention it'. In Ireland believe it or not in 2011, the news is managed. The media are afraid to report the facts or call it as it is. You had a situation where very unflattering portraits of their Taoiseach were hung in the national gallery as a prank, RTE reported this, showing one of the portraits, only to apologizein their news broadcast the following evening. The Irish police wasted time investigating. When Cowen was referred to as 'the drunken moron' by Jay Leno, national broadcaster RTE made no mentionm of this, independent channel TV3 did. Similarily, when former Taoiseach BBertie Ahern appeared in an ad for tabloid (page 3 girl and all) The News of the World, being dubbed 'the clown in the closet', there was no mention of this story on RTE. Nine people were killed in a car crash in Donegal last year and broadcaster George Hook was complained to the broadcasting standards commission for having the audacity to suggest on his show that 'there must have been incredible speed involved'. I recall several news bulletins there with references to a car accident, stating 'a 35 year old male was killed when his car left the road and collided with a tree', so it was the cars fault. The Irish are a peculiar race who are afraid to acknowledge reality. This is probably why it took so long for clerical child abuse to come to light (get outta here you little scut and don't be talking bout de holy catlik man like dat). When the EU/IMF arrived in Dublin last year it was denied for a week. When it was concluded that Ireland needed massive financial aid, government ministers went to great lengths to avoid using the term 'bailout'. It was referred to instead as 'a substantial, contingency, capitalization plan'. I am reminded of the Jack Nicholson movie 'A Few Good Men' and the famous line (which could be in relation to the Irish) 'you can't handle the truth'.
Fintanoflaois | Oct 15, 2011, 02:07 AM EDT
Thank you for informing us about this. The Irish media are terrified to even mention it, as Dana is coming across as a petulant bully and threatening with lawsuits. The Irish web site Politics.ie has banned users for even giving a link to your site. It has a very tolerant line on racist comments, but is paranoid about the holy Dana and her fundamentalist supporters. Ireland has a long history of the Catholic Church (aka the kiddy-fiddler church) covering up instances of child sex abuse and a question that Dana ought to answer is why she did not go to the authorities about this matter - either to have a molester stopped if in fact molestation was happening, or else to have the person making the false accusation called to account. Dana is doing her best to prevent the details of this matter being made known to the Irish public and just rants platitudes in interviews. I suspect Dana is an acronym for Don't Ask Nothing Awkward.
tommytylung | Oct 14, 2011, 06:15 PM EDT
i believe that there has to be a measure of truth to this story.Politics is a dirty business.